Sanitary sipping-straw dispenser having a reciprocating ejector



I... A. WILLS Sept. 13, 1966 SANITARY SIPPING-STRAW DISPENSER HAVING ARECIPROCATING EJECTOR Filed July 6, 1964 INVENTOR United States PatentFiled July 6, 1964, S91. No. 380,530 2 Claims. Cl. 221-454 Thisinvention relates to straw dispensers, and more particularly to strawdispensers of the type having vertically reciprocable straw dispensingmeans, and wherein straws are supported standing on end within areceptacle.

Many semi-automatic sanitary straw dispensers of the verticalreciprocating ejector type where straws stand on end in a receptaclehave been designed and patented, but apparently none have been producedand marketed successfully in recent years in the United States. One ormore of the following reasons seem obvious: Inadequate performance indispensing straws, insufficient integrity of design, too expensive tofabricate and/or provide tooling for manufacture. The novel features ofthis invention are combined with the novel straw agitation, feeding, andpositioning features of my copending patent application Serial No.343,869, filing date February 10, 1964, now Patent No. 3,203,600, August31, 1965, to show a straw dispenser embodiment that is intended to avoidthe shortcomings of other devices.

A main object of this invention is to provide an improved sanitary strawdispenser having a novel straw receptacle which incorporates means inthe receptacle vertical sidewall to provide housing, guidance, andalignment for the straw ejector means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedsanitary straw dispenser wherein the straw receptacle and ejectorguidance and alignment means can be molded or formed integrally or inpieces that can be bonded together, while providing a device that isrelatively inexpensive to fabricate, having a relatively simple andsturdy compact construction, efiectively protected against the entranceof contaminants, and can be operated smoothly and conveniently by theusers.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following descriptions and claims and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 represents a vertical central cross-sectional view of theimproved sanitary sipping-straw dispenser constructed in accordance withthe present invention.

FIGURE 2 represents a horizontal cross-sectional view of the improveddispenser, said view taken substantially on the line A-A of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 represents a horizontal cross-sectional view of the improvedstraw dispenser, said view being taken substantially on the line B--B ofFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 represents a perspective view of a straw agitator member.

FIGURE 5 represents a perspective view of a straw ejector member.

FIGURE 6 represents a perspective view of a slot closure bar.

FIGURE 7 represents a perspective view of a closure lid and strawretention member.

FIGURE 8 represents a perspective view of an agitator torsion spring.

FIGURE 9 represents a perspective view of an agitator pivot pin.

FIGURE 10 represents a perspective view of an ejector impact absorberspring.

FIGURE 11 represents a perspective view of a cavity closure plug.

A detailed description is given so that the construc- 3,272,386 PatentedSept. 13, 1966 tion, operation, and features of the invention may beclearly understood;

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGURE 1, asipping-straw dispenser is designated of the type where straws stand onend in a straw receptacle, a vertically reciprocating straw dispensingmechanism is employed to engage and dispense straws into a strawdischarge opening in the receptacle cover lid, the straw ejector memberof the straw dispensing mechanism being supported, guided, aligned, andlargely contained within a slender vertical cylindrical cavity andvertical slots formed in the thickened vertical sidewall portion of thestraw receptacle. Straw positioning cup means and straw agitation meansare employed. The features and structure of the straw agitating elementand other elements associated therewith are the same as shown by mycopending patent application Serial No. 343,869, filing date February10, 1964, now Patent No. 3,203,600.

A special configured, essentially cylindrical, receptacle 1, of plastic,wood, or glass material and of proper size and shape is employed for thestraw container. The receptacle 1 is provided with a cover lid 2 whichis upwardly funnel shaped. A straw discharge opening 23 is formed incover lid 2 and provided with a closure and straw retention member 12pivotally mounted on cover lid 2 (individual view of the closure andstraw retention memher is shown in FIGURE 7).

Designated at 4 is a thickened vertical sidewall portion of thereceptacle 1 which is formed and adapted to house and slidably support avertically reciprocating straw ejector member 5 therein (individual viewof the ejector member 5 is shown in FIGURE 5) and a slot closure bar 10preferably of nylon material or such (individual view of the closure baris shown in FIGURE 6). A slender vertical cylindrical cavity 6 is formedin wall portion 4 and the bar portion 22 (preferably of nylon materialor such) of straw ejector member 5 is slidably mounted therein saidcavity 6. A vertical slot 15 is formed in wall portion 4 and extendslaterally from cavity 6 to the interior surface of the receptacle 1.Slot 15 is adapted to receive the flange portion 17 of ejector member 5and permits vertical reciprocable movement of said flange portiontherein, and the vertical sidewall surfaces of 'slot 15 serve asvertical guide surfaces for said flange portion. A vertical slot 14 isformed in the wall portion 4 and extends laterally from cavity 6 to theexterior surface of wall portion 4 of receptacle 1. The slot 14 isadapted to receive the lift arm portion 16 of ejector member 5 andpermits vertical reciprocable movement of said lift arm therein, and thesidewall surfaces of slot 14 serve as vertical guide surfaces for thelift arm 16. A slender vertical cylindrical cavity 13 is: formed in wallportion 4 and is located such that the lower portion of cavity 13extends into the slot area 14, the diameter of cylindrical cavity 13being slightly larger than the width of slot opening 14. Slot closurebar 10 is contained and slidably mounted within cavity 13. The bottomend of bar 10 is supported on lif-t arm 16 when the ejector member 5 iselevated, and bar 10 is permitted to have vertical movement withincavity 13 as ejector member 5 moves upwardly and downwardly. When bar 10is in the lowered position, with its bottom end sup ported at the bottomend 24 of cavity 13, the bar 10 serves to close the upper area of slot14 which is between the top end of ejector bar 22 (when the ejectormember 5 is at the lowered position) and the top end of slot 14. Thismeans that when the ejector member 5 is in the normal (lowered) positionno open area exists through slots 14 and 15 for the passage ofcontaminates such as dust, as such would be passage ways are closed bythe presence of bar 10 and ejector bar 22. Cavity plug 21 (individualview is shown in FIGURE 11) closes the bottom end of cavity 6. Ejectorimpact absorber spring 8 (individual view is shown in FIGURE is locatedwithin cavity 6 and is supported on cavity plug 21. A suitable metalliner may be used'within cavity 6 to provide a more wear resistantsurface for ejector reciprocating movement therein (not shown on thedrawing).

A straw supporting cup 3 is integrally formed within receptacle 1 andhas a narrow vertical slot 18 formed therein which is in a straight linewith slot of wall portion 4 (slot 18 essentially being an extension ofslot 15). The slot 18 extends vertically from the top surface of cup 3into cavity 19 formed in the lower portion of receptacle 1. The slot 18underlies the bottom ends of several inclined straws disposed on cup 3as shown.

A straw agitator member 7 preferably of nylon material or such(individual view is shown in FIGURE 4) is located and pivotally mountedwithin receptacle cavity 19 by pivot pin 11 (individual view is shown inFIGURE 9) and is biased in a counterclockwise direction as shown inFIGURE 1 by agitator torsion spring 9 (individual view is shown inFIGURE 8). This member is the same as described in my copending patentapplication Serial No. 343,869, filing date February 10, 1964.

The operation of the dispenser is described as follows:

When the lift arm 16 of the straw ejector member 5 is released by a userand allowed to move to the lowered position (bar 22 moves verticallydownward in cavity 6), bar 10 is permitted to move downwardly in cavity13 until its bottom end contacts the bottom end 24 of cavity 13, therebyclosing the portion of slot 14 which lies between the upper end ofejector bar 22 and the top end of slot 14. The ejector member 5continues downwardly and its bottom end contacts the straw agitatormember 7 and causes it to rotate clockwise thereby agitating strawshaving their bottom ends positioned over slot 18 on cup 3. Downwardmovement of the ejector member 5 is arrested by spring 8 which absorbsejector impact shock. As the lift arm 16, of the ejector member 5 iselevated from the lowered position, the straw engagement pin formed onsaid member 5 (adjacent to flange 17) engages the bottom end of a strawthat is positioned over the slot 18 directly above the pin. The engagedstraw is elevated by the ejector member 5 to the upper ejector position.The upper portion of the engaged straw exits through the straw dischargeopening 23, causing the closure lid 12 to swing open. The closure lid 12retains the straw in this position where a portion of said straw isaccessible for grasping by the user. The cycle may now be repeated forthe delivery of another straw. Of course, the ejector member 5 normallyrests at the lowered position.

Advantages of the novel straw ejector support, guidance, and alignmentmeans:

The cavity walls and surfaces of the slot areas forming the support,guidance, and alignment means for the straw ejector member can be formedintegrally with the straw receptacle in an inexpensive manner which isclearly shown by the drawing. The vertical cavity and slot Wall surfacesprovide guides and alignment means for the ejector flange, lift arm, andejector bar, throughout their length of travel, forming a very secureand smooth operating mechanism. As the slot areas can be formed suchthat they are essentially extensions of each other (or essentially thesame slot), no problem of misalignment of the slots exist. Thisalignment of slots is very important because the slot areas in contactwith straw-s must be relatively narrow so that a straw will not moveinto the slot. Also, alignment of slots must be adequate or interferencebetween edges of the slots and the ejector member will result.

To provide a sanitary straw receptacle, openings in the straw receptaclethrough which ejector actuating means operate must have covers orclosure members to insure that the openings are covered when thedispenser is not being operated. This is uniquely provided by having thecylindrical reciprocating members slide within vertical cylindricalcavities and positioned such that the slotted areas are completelycovered when the dispenser ejector means is at rest.

What is claimed is:

1. A straw dispenser comprising a straw receptacle and a straw ejector,said straw receptacle having a top wall, a bottom Wall and sidewall,said top wall having a dispensing aperture therein, said bottom wallhaving an upper article funneling surface and an opening in thefunneling surface, said funneling surface adapted to permit the bottomends of straws to flow to said opening by gravity, said receptaclesidewall having a thickened ver tical portion wherein is integrallyformed a straight vertical cavity, a straight slender slot is integrallyformed in said thickened sidewall portion and extends laterally fromsaid vertical cavity to the interior surface of said receptacle, saidslot connects with said receptacle bottom wall funneling surfaceopening, an exterior opening integrally formed in said receptaclethickened sidewall portion and extends from the said vertical cavity tothe exterior receptacle surface, a portion of said straw ejector ispositioned in the said exterior opening and is slidable therein andadapted for use as an operating handle, said straw ejector is movablymounted in said straight vertical cavity for vertical reciprocation froma lower position to an upper position, a portion of said ejector beingslidably engaged in the said straight vertical cavity, and said ejectorhaving a portion thereof which passes through said funneling surfaceopening and is movable in the said slender sidewall slot during movementof the ejector from the lower position, said ejector is adapted toengage the bottom end of a streaw whereas the raising of said ejectorthrough the funneling surface opening may engage and elevate a strawinto said dispensing aperture.

2. A straw dispenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein the said exteriorreceptacle opening is a slender slot.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,589,891 6/1926Mazzoni et a1. 221254 2,701,663 2/1955 Pennington 221-259 2,862,64412/1958 Johnson 221-268 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

WALTER SOBIN, LOUIS I. DEMBO, Examiners.

1. A STRAW DISPENSER COMPRISING A STRAW RECEPTACLE AND A STRAW EJECTOR,SAID STRAW RECEPTACLE HAVING A TOP WALL, A BOTTOM WALL AND SIDEWALL,SAID TOP WALL HAVING A DISPENSING APERTURE THEREIN, SAID BOTTOM WALLHAVING AN UPPER ARTICLE FUNNELING SURFACE AND AN OPENING IN THEFUNNELING SURFACE, SAID FUNNELING SURFACE ADAPTED TO PERMIT THE BOTTOMENDS OF STRAWS TO FLOW TO SAID OPENING BY GRAVITY, SAID RECEPTACLESIDEWALL HAVING A THICKENED VERTICAL PORTION WHEREIN IS INTEGRALLYFORMED A STRAIGHT VERTICAL CAVITY, A STRAIGHT SLENDER SLOT IS INTEGRALLYFORMED IN SAID THICKENED SIDEWALL PORTION AND EXTENDS LATERALLY FROMSAID VERTICAL CAVITY TO THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID RECEPTACLE, SAIDSLOT CONNECTS WITH SAID RECEPTACLE BOTTOM WALL FUNNELING SURFACEOPENING, AN EXTERIOR OPENING INTEGRALLY FORMED IN SAID RECEPTACLETHICKENED SIDEWALL PORTION AND EXTENDS FROM THE SAID VERTICAL CAVITY TOTHE EXTERIOR RECEPTACLE SURFACE, A PORTION OF SAID STRAW EJECTOR